A Citizen's Guide to Ecology

Lawrence B. Slobodkin

A Citizen's Guide to Ecology

Lawrence B. Slobodkin

Description

The earth is continuously changing and evolving yet it is unclear how environmental changes will affect us in years to come. What changes are inevitable? What changes, if any, are beneficial? And what can we do as citizens of this planet to protect it and our future generations? Larry Slobodkin, one of the leading pioneers of modern ecology, offers compelling answers to these questions in A Citizen's Guide to Ecology. He provides many insights into ecology and the processes that keep the world functioning. This important guide introduces observations that underlie arguments about all aspects of the natural environment--including both global and local issues. To clarify difficult concepts, Slobodkin uses lake, ocean, and terrestrial ecosystems to explain ecological energy flows and relationships on a global scale. The book presents a clear and current understanding of the ecological world, and how individual citizens can participate in practical decisions on ecological issues. It tackles such issues as global warming, ecology and health, organic farming, species extinction and adaptation, and endangered species. An excellent introduction and overview, A Citizen's Guide to Ecology helps us to understand what steps we as humans can take to keep our planet habitable for generations to come. "This beautifully written book brings together careful observation, personal reflection, and theoretical understanding to explain the major environmental problems that confront us. Dr. Slobodkin's superb and sweeping work invites us to contemplate a great many facts and a few large values to motivate a clear and compelling response to losses of biodiversity, the problem of invasive species, global warming, and other environmental concerns."--Mark Sagoff, School of Public Affairs, University of Maryland

A Citizen's Guide to Ecology

Lawrence B. Slobodkin

Table of Contents

AcknowledgmentsIntroductionDefining EcologyChangesWhy Another Ecology Book?Who Are Ecologists?1. THE BIG PICTURE Water and Energy: Life's NecessitiesThe Origin of Life and of Atmospheric OxygenBig SystemsLakesLakes through the SeasonsOceansDry LandHow Independent Are Ecological Systems?2. HOW DO SPECIES SURVIVE? PopulationsIndividuals and PopulationsSpecies DiversitySpecies ExtinctionAre All Invasive Species Villains?3. TWO MAJOR CURRENT PROBLEMS Global Warming and Endangered SpeciesWhat Can Be Done About Global Warming?Protecting Endangered Species4. APPLYING ECOLOGY Experts, Pseudoexperts, and How to Tell Them ApartThe Importance of Being Natural and VegetarianMedicine and Ecology as "Health" SciencesConclusions AppendixReferencesIndex

A Citizen's Guide to Ecology

Lawrence B. Slobodkin

Author Information

Larry Slobodkin is Professor of Ecology and Evolution at the State University of New York at Stony Brook But most importantly there he is the first chairman of the first department of ecology and evolution in this country. His books include Growth and Regulation of Animal Populations and Simplicity and Complexity in Games of the Intellect.